US 12,075,939 B2
Beverage machine with a controlled outflow aperture
Nicolas Obliger, Franey (FR)
Assigned to Societe des Produits Nestle S.A., Vevey (CH)
Appl. No. 16/980,152
Filed by SOCIETE DES PRODUITS NESTLE S.A., Vevey (CH)
PCT Filed Mar. 13, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/056264
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Sep. 11, 2020,
PCT Pub. No. WO2019/175228, PCT Pub. Date Sep. 19, 2019.
Claims priority of application No. 18161841 (EP), filed on Mar. 14, 2018; and application No. 18214459 (EP), filed on Dec. 20, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0007534 A1, Jan. 14, 2021
Int. Cl. A47J 31/06 (2006.01); A47J 31/36 (2006.01)
CPC A47J 31/0621 (2013.01) [A47J 31/3628 (2013.01); A47J 31/3633 (2013.01)] 11 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for extracting a beverage from an ingredient supplied within a capsule in a machine, the machine comprising an extraction unit that has an extraction seat, the method comprising:
receiving, in the extraction seat, the capsule containing the ingredient, wherein the extraction seat is delimited by a first part and a second part that relatively move between (i) an open position for at least one of inserting the capsule into the extraction seat and for removing the capsule from the extraction seat and (ii) a closed position for extracting the capsule in the extraction seat;
guiding, by an inlet arrangement, water into the extraction seat; and
guiding, by a dispensing arrangement, the beverage out of the extraction seat towards a dispensing area via a beverage outlet, the dispensing arrangement comprising:
a face delimiting a downstream part of the extraction seat, the face being formed by a beverage guide structure having a beverage guide for guiding a total flow of beverage from the extraction seat via a total guide entry, through the beverage guide structure, out of a total guide exit towards the dispensing area via the beverage outlet,
the beverage guide structure being associated with a flow control device configured to control the total flow of beverage guided along the beverage guide, the flow control device has:
an obstruction portion, extending adjacent the beverage guide structure to obstruct at least a portion of the total guide entry and/or total guide exit to prevent or inhibit the passage of beverage through an obstructed guide portion, and
one or more control sides to delimit from the obstructed guide portion a passage through which is passed the total flow of beverage passing through a non-obstructed portion of the total guide entry and/or the total guide exit, the non-obstructed portion being adjacent the obstructed guide portion,
the obstruction portion and the one or more control sides being operable over the beverage guide structure to change a position and/or a size and/or a shape of the obstructed portion and the unobstructed portion of the total guide entry and/or the total guide exit.